50th Anniversary attractions

The final three attractions and renovations currently announced for Disneylands 50th Anniversary are discussed in this final report from the March 15th media preview. If you want to avoid spoilers, click here to skip to the next article.

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Space Mountain  Space Station 77

After Space Mountain closed without advance warning on April 10, 2003  just days before The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Playhouse Disney attractions opened  Disneyland released a statement saying that Space Mountain will be redesigned and relaunched in conjunction with the Disneyland 50th Anniversary in 2005. Construction will begin immediately and additions such as new special effects, digital technology, an integrated audio sound system and a completely revamped queue will provide a new level of excitement to Space Mountain.

For most of the past two years, the Disneyland Web site has said only that Space Mountain would re-launch sometime in 2005, though there were rumors of potential re-opening dates in November, July and May. At the State of the Resort meeting in March, Disneyland President Matt Oiumet finally revealed that Space Mountain would reopen on July 15th, two days before Disneylands 50th anniversary.

Chrissie Allen, Senior Show Producer for the new Space Mountain, explains that this 27-month renovation gave Imagineers the opportunity to introduce effects that were not possible when Space Mountain opened in 1977. Riders will now enter Space Station 77, a renovated loading area featuring a new space probe. A window onto the cosmos replaces the cheesy status board, and riders will feel a slight sense of disorientation, as the space station appears to rotate.

Riders will board redesigned rocket vehicles, and enter lift A. To finally put the rumors to rest, there is no launch technology in the new ride. The mechanics of lift A and lift B are basically unchanged, but both have new special effects. Lift A features a speed tunnel effect similar to that used in the Walt Disney World attraction, lift B carries the rockets through a 90 tunnel that appears to rotate around the vehicles. Allen said that during tests of the new effect, test subjects could not walk through a 30 section of tunnel without grabbing for a handhold.

When riders reach the top of the lift, the first thing they might notice is that the mountain is completely dark. Allen says that there are no light leaks inside the mountain. 70 projectors fill the inside dome with stars and realistic-looking planets, stars, galaxies and nebulae, complete with comets. The outer space environment presented will match what photos from the Hubble telescope tell us space should look like, instead of the images from the original attraction which looked quite like flying chocolate chip cookies.

A recording counts down to the first drop, and then riders are sent hurtling through the mountain on a flight path that is virtually unchanged from the original. A brand-new custom soundtrack accompanies the ride. A longer re-entry tunnel with new lighting effects ends the experience.

Imagineers hinted that there were even more surprises to be revealed when Space Mountain returned in July, and there have been rumors that the ride would be subtly transformed at night, perhaps with a new music track. It seems there is some merit to the rumors, as close inspection of the newly installed Space Mountain sign outside the attraction shows a second set of fiber-optic lights that read Rockit Mountain. It is also possible that Disney will reopen Space Mountain in July as planned, and save the launch of Rockit Mountain for Spring 2006, when Tower of Terror is scheduled to receive the new random-drop upgrade.

Disneyland  The First 50 Magical Years

Mr. Lincoln has been evicted from the Main Street Opera House for at least 18 months so Imagineers can bring us Disneyland  The First 50 Magical Years. (The show producers promise that Mr. Lincoln will return after the anniversary celebration.) The new attraction includes an exhibit of Disney memorabilia, and a new film.

Highlights of the exhibit include maquettes (models) of the Peter Pan and its a small world attractions; Herb Rymans original 1954 pencil sketch of Disneyland, used by Walt Disney to secure financing for the new endeavor; concept artwork for attractions never realized inside the park; and rare photographs from the first 50 years. The centerpiece of the exhibit is a 12 x 12 clay sculpture of Disneyland as it appeared on opening day, painstakingly created by the model shop at Walt Disney Imagineering.

The funny and poignant film offers a nostalgic look at Disneyland history, including 35mm film footage of the parks opening day, discovered when the contents of a Disney Archives warehouse were relocated to a new storage facility. (If you think Disneyland is crowded now during peak season, you wont believe the conditions on that first day)

Academy Award-nominated composer John Debney created the musical score for the film, which is co-hosted by Steve Martin. While the historical images of Disneyland  parades and entertainment of a bygone era, beloved former attractions and special events  might evoke wistful memories, tears of nostalgia will mix with tears of laughter as Donald Duck tries to replace Steve Martin as host.

Sleeping Beauty Castle

Park visitors have admired the freshly repainted Sleeping Beauty Castle, unveiled last fall, but the transformation will not be complete until the golden crowns are added in May. The five most prominent turrets will each receive a sparkling crown representing one decade of Disneyland history.

The crowns will be covered with sapphire, diamond and ruby jewels, and will include icons and themes specific to a Disneyland decade. For example, take a close look at the crown representing the 1970s and see if you can spot the Blue Fairy and tiny light bulbs from the Main Street Electrical Parade. The crown representing the 1980s will pay tribute to Tomorrowland with stars and rocket shapes, and space-blue accents.

New banners and fabric swags will complete the anniversary overlay for the Castle, and provide a backdrop for many of the anniversary ceremonies and the new fireworks.

50th Anniversary Merchandise Event

Disneyland Event Services has released on the Disney Gallery Web site
details of the Celebrating 50 Years of Magical Memories event.
Be prepared, though, to not only empty your wallet but to go find the
second wallet where you keep the rainy day money and empty that, too.
The cheapest package comes in at $495, with the most expensive at $1,955.
One nice thing is that Disney is finally offering a discount for attendees
with Premium Annual Passes, who can knock $106 off the price of each package.

Here are the four plans offered, followed by detail descriptions. Based
on questions and confusion in the discussion on our message board,
Guest Services has said they will try to release additional and clarifying
information before the tickets go on sale Friday, April 22 at 9 a.m.

The Imagineer's Quest package sets the groundwork of what is
available in all packages. Items in red are available at the Lillian's
Inspiration package or higher, items in green are added to the Roy's
Plan package and better, while items in blue are available only for
the Walt's Dream package.

First opportunity to pre-purchase open edition and limited edition
50th Anniversary Event Merchandise

As is usual for these events, details are scarce but here is what is
known about some of these components. If it isn't listed here, it is because
nothing is known about it other than what it says above.

Illusions, Illustrations & Inspirations seminars/workshops
 No real information on what these seminar/workshops entail,
but it is known that there will be four seminars each day, with eight
total. Attendees at the Lillian's Inspiration package or higher can
possibly attend two seminars each day for a total of four. However,
for Lillian's Inspiration package purchasers the seminars are available
through the Random Selection Process only. For Roy's Plan or Walt's
Dream packages, one seminar per day is guaranteed, though which one
will still be through the Random Selection Process.

Park admission  Unless you waive them because
you have a premium annual pass, all packages include admission tickets
for both July 16 and July 17even the Imagineer's Quest package,
which has no events on July 17. Presumably all of the events on July
15 are outside of the park, but attendees must arrange their own park
admission for that day.

Hotel accommodations  Couples purchasing either
the Roy's Plan or Walt's Dream packages do not have an option to waive
the hotel for one of the packages. Instead they are given two additional
nights on July 13 and July 14. Those are the only two nights that can
be used, and if you are staying the night of July 17, you must make
separate arrangements. Also, there is no guarantee that the 13 and 14
will be in the same hotel, though presumably they'll try.

Looking at these packages, it seems that the weakest is Roy's Plan.
At $1,000 more than Lillian's Inspiration, the only things extra you get
are two nights hotel, an extra keepsake, and reserved seating at various
events you'd probably be able to attend anyway. If you are willing to
pay for these, it makes more sense to plunk down another $205 for an upgrade
to the Grand California Hotel, a more exclusive breakfast, and another
keepsake. However, if you are a couple and the appeal of Roy's Plan is
the room guarantee, it may make sense to pay for one Roy's Plan and one
Lillian's Inspiration.

In addition to these packages some separately ticketed events have been
announced as well.

Live Auction Experience  For $150 you can attend just
the live auction on July 15, which includes admission, Taste of Disneyland,
and an auction catalog and paddle. Registration for this also begins
at 9 a.m. (Pacific) on April 22.

Fess Parker Wine Country Inn & Spa Experience 
See the registration Web site (link)
for complete details. Essentially, it is a trip from Disneyland to Fess
Parker's vineyard. It is an overnight stay on July 14 and includes a
reception, dinner with Fess and Eli Parker, and a meetandgreet
with Fess Parker. A commemorative gift is also included. Prices range
from $610 for a single person ($950 for a couple) to $680 for a single
($1,020 for double occupancy). Spa treatments are extra.

This experience cannot be booked alone; you must have also purchased
one of the four Celebrating 50 Years of Magical Memories packages. Warning:
A couple purchasing this in conjunction with a Roy's Plan or Walt's
Dream package will get double-dipped, since Disney is giving them a
resort hotel room on July 14, which will be spent sleeping at Fess Parker's.

New Tomorrowland Mural

The new mural above Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is done, and looks
great.

The old mural when the NASA exhibit was still in place. Photo by Adrienne
VincentPhoenix.

Things are definitely moving. The cab and tender have been removed
in order to shore up the frame and make it easier to paint the boiler
jacket.

The new driver centers arrived, and tires were fitted (yes, steam
locomotives have tires! Although I wouldn't want to use one as a tire
swingthey're made of steel, of course). Molten lead was poured
into the wheels' counterweights, and last night, they were painted in
the familiar bright red common to all the DL steamers.

There was much heavy lifting going on. The process of lifting a steam
locomotive without benefit of an overhead crane, in order to install
the drivers (the large wheels on a steam locomotive), is laborious and
intense. The engine is lifted using straps and a fork lift to raise
one end at a time. When one end is raised, large jacks are positioned,
and the forklift moves to the other end, repeating the procedure.

Eventually, the engine rested on jacks several feet in the air. The
driving wheel boxes, with their crown brasses (bearings), were prepared,
and the cellars packed with oil and waste packing material. Then the
boxes were fitted to the driver axles.

When this was accomplished, the wheels were rolled into position on
rails situated under the engine. Nudging with pry bars and wood cribbing
assured the wheels were each positioned directly under their respective
frame openings. The pony truck (the little wheel near the cowcatcher)
was also rolled into position under the pilot deck.

When everything was in place, the process began to lower the engine
onto her wheels. The lifting procedure was reversed, and the jacks were
removed as the forklift supported the engine's weight. Slowly, gingerly,
the engine was brought to rest on her wheels!

Work was also accomplished in the cabthe dreaded cab signals
have been installed.

Now that the wheels are on, work can continue with the rest of the
enginelike fitting the side rods, plumbing the cab, and wiring
the engine. As with any project of this nature, one never knows what
surprise one might find during any particular operation. But I have
my fingers crossed that the engine will be ready to go on a sunny Thursday
in May, blasting her polished single-chime Lunkenheimer whistle for
all to hear!

The final security gates

New yellow and white tents have been put up at the bag check stations
as you enter the esplanade between Disneyland and Disney's California
Adventure. Permanent lights have been installed, though temporary folding
tables are still used. According to cast members, fixed pavilions like
those at Walt Disney World will not be used. At least, that's the plan
for now.

New tents add color to your entry into the parks. Photo by Adrienne VincentPhoenix.

New spaces, that you probably won't use

Festival Arena received a renovation over the winter that built a new
stage and added lighting. This was not in preparation for anything new
or exciting, but to make it a more attractive venue for rental by large
groups. The new lighting allows the space to be rented at any time from
park opening to park closing, rather than just during daylight hours.

The new stage in Festival Arena and the setup for a group party. Photo
by Adrienne VincentPhoenix.

Similarly, the Who Want's to Be a Millionaire  Play It!
auditorium is just now being considered for a plan to gut the building and turn it into another event venue, similar to the neighboring Hollywood and Dine building. This change would give DCA a second, larger picnic venue.

Monsters Facade

Work on the former SuperStar Limo exterior facade continues with sketches
and markings giving a sense of what is to come.

In this sketch, it looks like a monster is eating the large circle. Photo
by Adrienne VincentPhoenix.

Although not visible in this photo, various parts are labeled keep
and cut. Photo by Adrienne VincentPhoenix.

Just a reminder of what the facade looked like for SuperStar Limo. Photo
by Ian Parkisnon.

More for Mother's Day

The previously sold out Mother's Day brunch at the Disneyland Hotel
now has additional seats. They probably won't last long, but you can get
information on availabilty at 714781DINE (7147813463).

Construction wall creates improvement

While the stroller, wheelchair, and ECV rental station near the park's
enrance is being refurbished, the rental location has been moved outside
the park. The new location at the old guest services window to the right
of Disneyland's entry gates is proving propularonce people find
it. Signs have been added to the bagcheck locations, but many people
are still heading straight into the park.

However, the new location has lots of room, and the right tunnel under
the railroad is much less congested.

The removal of the ECVs and strollers really opens up the space around
the right tunnel. Photo by Adrienne VincentPhoenix.

The Esplanade provies plenty of room for sorting and selecting equipment.
Photo by Adrienne VincentPhoenix.

Take Two

As we've reported before, rumors of another closure of Splash Moutain
remain strong. Though the ride reopened in time for spring break crowds,
repeated problems have required sending the new logs out without anybody
in the updated rear seat. While it does not seem like such a big deal,
it does represent a pretty substantial reduction in capacity for the attrction.

While nothing has been announced, do not be surprised if the ride goes
down soon in an attempt to get the problem fixed before the big May 5
events.

The logs have been unable to go out with anybody in the back seat. Photo
by Adrienne VincentPhoenix.

Mark Twain Riverboat also had to go back for refurbishment last
week to finish work that was not done in time for spring break, but it
was back on this water this last weekend.

Mark Twain Riverboat with its new gold highlights. Photo by Adrienne
VincentPhoenix.

The Mark Twain Riverboat, as it used to be when it had an allwhite
paint job. Photo by Adrienne VincentPhoenix.

Swarovski sculptures

Two members of the Swarovski family helped to debut a new collection
of scultpures available at World of Disney in Downtown Disney on April
9. The large Mickey in the second photo will be one of the items auctioned
off at the Live Auction event on Friday, July 15.

The new Swarovski scultpures. This large Mickey Mouse is for display only.
Photo by Adrienne VincentPhoenix.

This large Mickey Mouse is being auctioned on July 15. Photo by Adrienne
VincentPhoenix.

Ears to the Ground

If you happen to be in the park around closing on a weeknight for
the next couple weeks, you may want to linger a bit. Reports are that
testing of the new fireworks has begun and while no one knows when, how,
or how often tests are run, you may get a nice bonus. It probably isn't
worth going to the park just in hopes of this, though.

Much excitement has been sparked by the discovery that the new
Space Mountain sign shown last week includes a second set of fiber optics
that can make the sign say Rockit Mountain. This is being
taken as support for the rumor that there will be one version of the Space
Mountain ride for daytime, and another one at night. While we have not
yet been able to capture the details showing the fiber optics in a photo
of our own, we have visually confirmed them in person.

Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips,
rumors, and comments. E-mail us
here.

Note: Refurbishment schedules are estimates only. All information is
subject to change without notice. To get the most recent updates, call
Disneyland at (714) 781-7290.

May

Disneyland closed on May 4, 2005 to put the finishing touches on the 50th Anniversary
celebration. DCA open on May 4.

Disneyland's 50th Anniversary celebration begins May 5.

Mother's Day Brunch at Disneyland Hotel on May 8. Sold out,
but information available at 714-781-DINE.

June

Robert Olszewski merchandise release. June 18 at Disneyland
Park. Two new Main Street pieces in his Disneyland in Miniature
collection: Main Street Train Station and Main Street Train. Also released
will be Dapper Dan and Fab Five character packs.

2005 Summer Pin Festival. June 24  Aug. 15 at the Disneyland
Resort. No details have been announced (link).

July

Disneyland 50th Anniversary special event. July 1517.
Three days of merchandising events with multiple purchase plans (link).

July 2005 NFFC convention. July 913. The Show and
Sale is scheduled for July 10.

Robert Olszewski merchandise release. July 16 at Grand Californian
Hotel. The first nonMain Street piece in his Disneyland
in Miniature collection: Mad Tea Party.

September

Robert Olszewski merchandise release. September 10 at Disneyland
Park. Several new pieces in his Disneyland in Miniature
collection: Disney Showcase/Magic Shop/20th Century Music and Jungle
Cruise as well as a pin trading cart and a marching band character pack.

Several current promotions offer discounted admission to the Disneyland
Resort. For convenience sake, we have grouped the discount offers based
on the number of days the tickets are valid. Check out the category that
best matches the amount of time you plan to spend at the resort, and pick
the offer which works best for you. And keep those tips coming - let us
know if you find a better / different offer, so we can share it with other
readers!

One Day

No discounts offered to the general public for single-day admission.
You might find discounted tickets, starting at around $41 for ages
10 and up, through your employer, student organization or professional
association. Check with your group activity office or human resources
department.

Two Days

Southern California 2Fer Ticket ($53/$43) through April 28,
2005  The spring resident salute discount
is a 2Fer ticket, with one admission to Disneyland and one admission
to Disney's California Adventure on two different days. Purchase
the ticket card in advance at Southern California-area
Vons and Pavillions grocery stores or at the Disneyland Web site
(link),
scanned and activated at the time of purchase. Walk up to the main
entrance, present the ticket card and proof of Southern California
residency to gain admission.

Tickets: $53 for ages 10 and older, $43 for ages 3 to 9. You must
use the second admission within 30 days of the first admission,
or by April 28, 2005, whichever comes first.

According to the official promotion details, Southern California
residents can buy up to eight 2Fer tickets per day, but each member
of your party must be able to provide proof of Southern California
(zip codes 90000 through 93599) or Baja California (ZIP codes 21000
through 22999) residency to use the tickets.

Reader James tells us that he purchased these tickets at the
Disneyland Resort ticket booths, and was allowed to purchase the
tickets for his out-of-state relatives. He says his relatives were
never asked for proof of residency.

Southern California 2-Day Park Hopper at 1-Day Park Hopper
Price through April 28, 2005  Residents of Southern California
and Baja California, Mexico, can purchase a standard 2-Day Park
Hopper pass for the price of a 1-Day Park Hopper. It appears this
offer is available only online at Disney's Web site (link);
you need to enter an eligible ZIP code.

Tickets: $73 for ages 10 and older, $63 for ages 3 to 9. You must
use the second day of admission within 30 days of the first admission,
or by April 28, 2005, whichever comes first.

According to the official promotion details, Southern California
residents can buy up to eight passes per day, but on only two days
in any seven day period. Expect each member of your party must be
able to provide proof of Southern California (zip codes 90000 through
93599) or Baja California (zip codes 21000 through 22999) residency
when presenting the tickets at the main entrance.

Good Neighbor Hotel Park Hopper Plus tickets ($105/$85)
through April 28, 2005  Disneyland resort Good Neighbor
hotels can offer a 2-Day Park Hopper Plus ticket at $105 for ages
10 and up, or $85 for ages 3 to 9. No advance purchase is required,
and some hotels may even sell them to visitors who are not staying
at that property. These tickets are valid through April 28. 2005.

AAA Flex Passport ($98/$78)  Some AAA offices offer
a 2-day Flex Passport at $98 for ages 10 and up, or $78 for ages
3-9. This ticket does not require a hotel or package purchasecheck
with your local office to see if the ticket is available in your
area.

A reader let us know that AAA offices in Oregon and Idaho
do not offer the 2-day version of this ticket, but instead offer
a 3-day pass.

Three Days

AAA Flex Passport ($129/$99)  Some AAA offices
offer a 3-day Flex Passport at $129 for ages 10 and up, or $99 for
ages 3-9. This ticket does not require a hotel or package purchase
- check with your local office to see if the ticket is available
in your area.

Good Neighbor Hotel Park Hopper Plus tickets ($114/$114)
through April 28, 2005  Disneyland resort Good Neighbor
hotels can offer a 3-Day Park Hopper Plus ticket for $114, ages
3 and up. (Adults and children pay the same price) No advance purchase
is required, and some hotels may even sell them to visitors who
are not staying at that property. These tickets are valid through
April 28, 2005.

City Pass ($185/$127) effective April 1,
2005  Starting April 1, 2005, the cost of a CityPass
increases to $185 for ages 10 and up, but decrease to $127 for ages
3-9. The pass includes a 3-Day Disneyland Resort park hopper bonus
ticket (includes a $10 ESPN Zone game card and one early admission),
one day admission to Knott's Berry Farm, Sea World San Diego, and
either the San Diego Zoo or San Diego Wild Animal Park. The CityPass
still expires 14 days after first use. Purchase CityPass through
the Disneyland Web site, at the Disneyland Resort, at the other
theme parks included in the pass, or directly from the CityPass
Web site (link).

Costco City Pass promotion ($164.99/$112.99)
through March 31, 2005 Costco is offering
the Southern California CityPass for $149.99 for adults, and $114.99
for children ages 3 to 9. You must use the first admission by March
31, 2005, and the pass expires 13 days after the first admission
is used.

Available at Southern California Costco stores or at the Costco
Web site (link).
NonCostco members can buy the tickets via the Web site with
a 5% surcharge. A shipping fee applies to Internet orders.

3-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($109/$109) ($139/$109)  The park hopper bonus tickets currently
include one early entry admission to Fantasyland and a $10 ESPN
Zone game card. If the Disneyland resort portion of your trip concludes
by May 11, 2005, you can take advantage of the Adults Play
for the Kids' Price special. Through this advance purchase
offer, 3-day park hopper tickets for ages 3 and up are $109, a savings
of $20-50 off the main gate price. Expires 13 days after first use
or May 11, 2005, whichever comes first.

If you plan to visit the Disneyland resort after April 28, take
advantage of the Advance Purchase discount to save $20
per ticket, as detailed above. Expires 13 days after first use or
January 15, 2006, whichever comes first.

Both offers are available at the Disneyland Web site (link),
some Southern California AAA offices, some Disney Stores, or your
travel agent. Must be purchased in advance, and are not available
at the Disneyland resort ticket booths.

Several readers wrote to tell us that the Safeway stores in
Central and Northern California, and Vons stores in Las Vegas, are
also offering the 3-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets. Check with your
local Safeway store for details, as the dates and benefits may differ.

Four Days

Costco Play 4 Days ticket ($89/$89)  Costco
offers a discounted 4-day Disneyland Resort ticket at $89 per person,
ages 3 and up for Southern California Costco members (zip codes
90000-93599). Not a park hopper; each day is valid for either Disneyland
or Disney's California Adventure admission. Unlike the CityPass,
you must buy these tickets in person at participating Costco locations.

You get a voucher to exchange at a Disneyland Resort ticket booth
for a valid pass. Proof of local residency is required to exchange
the tickets, with a limit of 5 tickets per day. Tickets are non-transferable.

The ticket is valid through June 23, 2005, or until the fourth
admission is used. The ticket is not valid March 19  April
2, 2005.

Good Neighbor Hotel Park Hopper Plus tickets ($134/$134)
through April 28, 2005  Disneyland Resort Good Neighbor
hotels can offer a 4-Day Park Hopper Plus ticket for $134, ages
3 and up (Adults and children pay the same price). No advance purchase
is required, and some hotels may even sell them to visitors who
are not staying at that property. Valid through April 28, 2005.

4-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($129/$129) ($159/$129)  The park hopper bonus tickets currently
include one early entry admission to Fantasyland, and a $10 ESPN
Zone game card. If the Disneyland resort portion of your trip concludes
by May 11, 2005, take advantage of the Adults Play for
the Kids' Price special. Through this advance purchase
offer, 4-day park hopper tickets for ages 3 and up are $129, a savings
of $30-60 off the main gate price. These tickets expire 13 days
after first use or May 11, 2005, whichever comes first.

If you plan to visit the Disneyland Resort after April 28, you
can still take advantage of the Advance Purchase discount
and save $30 per ticket, as detailed above. These tickets expire
13 days after first use or January 15, 2006, whichever comes first.

Both of these ticket offers are available through the Disneyland
Web site (link),
through some Southern California AAA offices, through some Disney
Stores, or through your travel agent. You must buy these tickets
in advance; they are not available at the Disneyland Resort ticket
booths.

California Diamond Fun Book (one per package - may not be available
when you order)

Free parking at Disneyland Resort theme parks

Early entry into Fantasyland on select days

An additional handling fee of $10 is charged per mailing address.
These tickets are available to AAA members only when purchased through
participating AAA offices.

Several readers report that their local AAA offices do not
offer this ticket, or that the benefits differ. You may remember
that this also happened with the 2004 version of this package.

MousePlanet has contacted AAA offices around the country and
encountered the same problem. If your local AAA office does not
offer the ticket, check with another AAA office in your area. The
decision to offer this ticket seems to depend on which regional
AAA club you belong to, and in some cases rest with
the office manager at each location.

The Auto Club of Southern California (ACSC) is not participating
in this offer, and AAA Oregon/Idaho offers the 5-day tickets. Some
readers have also been told that the California Diamond Fun Book
is no longer available.

5-Day Park Hopper Bonus tickets ($139/$139) ($169/$139)  The park hopper bonus tickets currently
include one early entry admission to Fantasyland, and a $10 ESPN
Zone game card. If the Disneyland Resort portion of your trip concludes
by May 11, 2005, take advantage of the Adults Play for
the Kids' Price special. Through this advance purchase
offer, 5-day park hopper tickets for ages 3 and up are $139, a savings
of $40-70 off the main gate price. These tickets expire 13 days
after first use or May 11, 2005, whichever comes first.

If you plan to visit the Disneyland Resort after April 28, take
advantage of the Advance Purchase discount and save $40
per ticket, as detailed in above. These tickets expire 13 days after
first use or January 15, 2006, whichever comes first.

Both of these ticket offers are available through the Disneyland
Web site (link),
through some Southern California AAA offices, through some Disney
Stores, or through your travel agent. These tickets must be purchased
in advance, and are not available at the Disneyland resort ticket
booths.

Alaska Airlines Kids Fly Free promotion through
June 29, 2005  If you have to fly to Southern California,
Alaska Airlines has a package that includes either a free 5-day
park hopper with each paid adult ticket, or an adult 5-day park
hopper for the children's price. You must book packages by June
1, and travel must be completed by June 29. Visit the Alaska Airlines
Web site (link)
for more details.

Six or Seven Days

Disney's AAA Passport Plus Package 2005  The Parkhopper
Plus package may be available in 6- or 7- day increments at participating
AAA offices. Check with your local AAA office for availability and
pricing:

California Diamond Fun Book (one per package - may not be available
when you order)

Free parking at Disneyland Resort theme parks

An additional handling fee of $10 is charged per mailing address.
These tickets are available to AAA members only when purchased through
AAA offices.

Several readers report that their local AAA offices do not
offer this ticket, or that the benefits differ. You may remember
that this also happened with the 2004 version of this package. MousePlanet
has contacted AAA offices around the country, and encountered the
same problem. If your local AAA office does not offer the ticket,
check with another AAA office in your area. The decision to offer
this ticket seems to depend on which regional AAA club
you belong to, and in some cases rests with the office manager at
each location.

The Auto Club of Southern California (ACSC) is not participating
in this offer, and AAA Oregon/Idaho offers the 5-day tickets. Some
readers have also been told that the California Diamond Fun Book
is no longer available.

Special thanks to MousePlanet reader David Michael for some of
this information.

50th Anniversary Package, revised

The Happiest Homecomings on Earth package has been revised for the new
year. The previous promotion was good only for three-night stays at the
Disneyland Resort hotels; the new offer is valid on longer stays and includes
Good Neighbor Hotels as well.

Instead of the 50th anniversary commemorative clock and Walk in Walt's
Footsteps tour, the new packages include all the following:

Enchanting commemorative certificate (one per package)

Park Hopper bonus ticket, which includes one early entry into Fantasyland
and a $10 ESPN Zone game card. (Park hopper tickets can be upgraded
to an annual pass for an extra fee)

Preferred seating to select shows at Disney's California Adventure

Entry into Mickey's Toontown Madness

Walt Disney Travel Co. lanyard and pin (one per person)

Walt Disney Travel Co. luggage tag

Walt Disney Travel Co. fun book (one per package)

The Happiest Homecoming on Earth package is available for
arrival dates through December 31, 2005. The package can be booked through
the Disneyland Web site (link),
or by calling (714) 520-5060.

ESPN Zone MVP Club

If you sign up online for ESPN Zone's MVP Club (link)
you can receive a $20 voucher (for food, merchandise, or game cards),
a 40-point game card (about $10 worth), and an ESPN Zone mini-cooler.
ESPN Club in Orlando is excluded from this offer. You must pick up these
items in person, although they do not have to be used as the same store
from which you get them. There are some fairly strick requirements for
registering and getting your rewards, so make sure you read the details
carefully (link).

MousePlanet® is not associated in any official way with the Walt Disney Company, its subsidiaries, or its affiliates. The official Disney site is available at www.disney.com. This MousePlanet Web site provides independent news articles, commentary, editorials, reviews, and guides primarily about the theme park resorts of the Walt Disney Co. All information on this site is subject to change. Please call destinations in advance to confirm the most up-to-date information.